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Elderly parents

FIL caught drink driving

262 replies

CrazyGoatLady · 27/12/2025 14:28

FIL (73) drove home from the pub on Christmas Eve, got pulled over for speeding and was over the limit. Said he'd barely had anything to drink, but his brother said he had 6 pints over around 4hrs so he must have been well over. It was about a 5 mile drive home, but on a stretch of A road that often has patrols on it. Fool!

We've had rows over it before and I've said if he ever did it with DC in the car I'd shop him myself. Nobody else was with him on this occasion.

FIL now wants us to help him pay for a good solicitor as he is going to opt for court to try and avoid a ban, as GMIL is very elderly, losing it a bit, and FIL is very involved with her care, he drives over to her house most days. I do not want to give him a penny, as he's been drink driving for years and I hate his attitude, nanny state, they just want your money, I'm a careful driver, it's fine, blah blah. DH is angry with him, but wavering for GMIL's sake.

If DH wants to help I can't stop him, but I don't want him using our joint/family funds to help him weasel his way out, and I feel like he should have thought of his elderly mother before getting in the car after 6 pints. Am I being mean here?

OP posts:
Hotchocolateandmarsh · 27/12/2025 14:40

Consequences of actions…..do not help financially at all

billysboy · 27/12/2025 14:39

Wouldn’t give him a penny , if he has money for 5 ( pints ) and drive he deserves everything he gets and will have to live with consequences of his actions

PauliesWalnuts · 27/12/2025 14:39

Don’t pay. He’s had a lucky escape as it is by not actually killing someone. My next door neighbour’s kid killed a man who had two kids when he was driving drunk, left the scene of the accident and ended up with a 10 year prison sentence. The victim’s kids lost their dad forever.

ThisOldThang · 27/12/2025 14:38

Drink driving is an automatic ban. It isn't like speeding where you can claim 'disproportionate hardship'.

Tell him to go to court and plead guilty. It's the cheapest option and showing contrition may result in a shorter ban - e.g. 12 months instead of 24 months.

OldPosterNewName2025 · 27/12/2025 14:37

Nope. He could kill somebody and shouldn’t be on the road.

Billybingbong · 27/12/2025 14:35

No, you are absolutely not being mean. And drink driving is a mandatory minimum 12 month ban anyway, so it would be a waste of money trying to fight it. He sounds like an arrogant fool, I hope they throw the book at him

thinkofablinkingnamewoman · 27/12/2025 14:35

What an idiot. If you really want to help, tell him you'll pay for the occasional taxi but he's done this to himself

MissMoneyFairy · 27/12/2025 14:34

Don't give him a penny, he shouldn't be driving, he can buy s bike instead.

EdinaTheConfessor · 27/12/2025 14:33

Absolutely he should be banned. It’s not a case of “nobody was with him” it’s who else on the road he could have killed. Utter fool, don’t give him a penny and don’t let your DH either.

zipadeedodah · 27/12/2025 14:33

Thehorticuluralhussie · 27/12/2025 14:33

He's not going to talk his way out of it. Don't waste your money. He's going to get banned and he deserves to.

This.

Thehorticuluralhussie · 27/12/2025 14:33

He's not going to talk his way out of it. Don't waste your money. He's going to get banned and he deserves to.

itsthetea · 27/12/2025 14:29

No you are not being mean

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